Logginet Temperature and Process Data Collection

Temperature and process data collection is one of the more important tasks in a processing plant, yet is probably one of the more irksome a processor has to do for his HACCP-plans. What makes it so awkward and troublesome is that a variety of different tasks such as room temperatures, smokehouse or autoclave procedures, and product temperatures have to be recorded in various forms and combined to establish a comprehensive report on the plant's activities.

The more sophisticated operations have computers connected to their smoke houses and autoclaves. Their other temperature control requirements are handled by relatively expensive systems whereby quality control staff takes daily readings via a handheld recorder which is plugged into data collectors at each temperature control point and then transferred to the computer. All this requires the investigation of a large variety of vendors and the integration costs a lot of effort. Others with lesser means rely on chart recorders and manual write downs to collect the data. And because the data is collected not by the minute, but rather by the hour or day, problem conditions are usually only detected rather late which can lead to recalls or quarantines and rework. All this complexity should not be necessary for such a fundamental requirement. There are simpler systems out there.

Intelligent probes or sensors, either temperature or temperature and humidity, are installed in all rooms and record the values. Open/closed door conditions are also monitored. The probes are connected by cable in series at the end of which is a data collector. This collector transmits the data electronically to the computer when prompted. Alarm conditions are programmed and when they happen, maintenance crews can be informed immediately.

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